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Paceman Mohammed Shami is improving but he is still not a certainty for the next match against West Indies in Perth on Friday.
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With Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, the other semi-fit seamer in the squad, still not full recovering from the knee injury, the team management has a tough balancing act to do. Extreme care is being taken to ensure that Bhuvi's knee is well looked after so that he does not break down before major matches. So it is certain that the only possible change for the West Indies clash will be for the Bhuvi-Shami slot.
Meanwhile, the Indian think-tank have retained Mumbai paceman Dhawal Kulkarni as a standby. Since Kulkarni has to be in the dressing room as well, his accreditation as per the Players and Match Official Area (PMOA) regulations has been drawn up as a member of the team management. The Indian think-tank is keen to ensure that Kulkarni at the last minute's notice in case something happens to one of their key pacemen.
‘You cannot become champion by hiding: Ravi Shastri
Team director Ravi Shastri is the man in charge, planning everything for the side. His diktat to the side is simple: "give your best, don't get worried, express your problems and we will try to sort it out". That’s not all… it further states, “Don't get worried. If you lose not a problem, but give your best". Nobody should have a tension. Haar jaao no problem, but give your best.”
Perfect practice, visualisation and video session is a must in Shastri's technique of preparation for a big match.
Visualisation session is very important as the Indian bowlers are spending time together. They are analysing as a group on how to get wickets. The aim for now is to top Pool B of the World Cup.
India may want to avoid playing New Zealand or Australia in the knockout stage. But Shastri is clear on this subject as well.
"You cannot become champion by hiding. Why worry about issues that you cannot control. If you have to face tiger in the next round, so be it. Our aim is to win all the matches," is Shastri's message to the side.
Everyone has a plan to get Gayle out
Team India will plan to attack West Indies through Ravichandran Ashwin. Bouncer as a weapon against Chris Gayle is also on the cards. If Gayle falls early then it would be a cakewalk for the Indians. Umesh Yadav, has been told to bowl bouncers at Gayle.
Every bowler has been handed over a plan to get Gayle out.
Bouncer, yorker, slower delivery every possible weapon has to be used to negate the Gayle force. Ashwin's confidence has also grown because of the fact that his best ODI bowling show came at Perth, a paradise for pacemen.
"I am bowling well and getting purchase from the wicket. For me leg slip is very important. if the ball is fast and turning, when the batsman is trying to flick, one or two balls will go to leg slip, that's why we have kept a fielder there," revealed Ashwin.
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